By Matthew Laurrie
Copy Editor
Every time the bells toll at Bonaventure, they aren’t just sounding in another hour, they’re ringing in decades of history.
The bell tower, or campanile, connected to Doyle Hall and the University Chapel has been a Bonaventure emblem since it was dedicated along with the rest of the building on July 16, 1961, according to Dennis Frank, university archivist. Our Lady’s Campanile, the formal name of the Doyle bell tower, represents the design and character of St. Bonaventure.
“The campanile is a wonderful example of the architecture on campus,” Frank said. “All of the main buildings on campus share a group of architects and designers who worked hard with the campus community to achieve a beautiful and inspiring environment for study and spiritual development.”
Brother Cajetan Baumann, O.F.M., designed much of the architecture on campus, which is why there is so much aesthetic consistency in many of the buildings at Bonaventure. Some of Baumann’s projects included Doyle Hall, Francis Hall, Plassmann Hall and Hopkins Hall, among others. Both Doyle and Francis Halls are complete with overlooking bell towers, which have become recognizable symbols of the university.
According to university archives, Our Lady’s Campanile houses three bronze bells; each one commemorates an individual whose influence on the university is both important and distinctive. The top bell is dedicated to Mary, the middle bell is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi and the lowest bell is dedicated to St. Bonaventure. Each bell has an inscription that pays respect to important religious figures and ideas.
Frank also discussed the significance of symbolism in the construction of the structure, which stands at 114’9″, and also reflected upon the spiritual nature of the Doyle bell tower.
“Baumann took into account St. Bonaventure’s interest in symbols and numbers in his design,” Frank said. “Bonaventure had a particular interest in the number three and its association with the Holy Trinity. The campanile reflects that – its three columns represent the Trinity, demonstrating the unity of the Trinity since if any are missing the structure will topple.”
Phil Winger, associate vice president for facilities, discussed how Our Lady’s Campanile is maintained and what goes into making sure the bell tower is well-preserved. He said the university spends several thousand dollars a year on the upkeep of the tower, which is necessary as a result of its historical familiarity at Bona’s.
“The steel and masonry structure needs very little maintenance itself, beyond the occasional inspection,” Winger said. “The bells, however, are maintained by the manufacturer, Verdin Bell Co. This involves an annual visit to check out the electric ringing systems. Some years we rent a lift so they can go up in the basket to inspect the bells. The ladder rungs you see are not used.”
Whether it’s imprinted on a postcard or a perched atop a piece of university letterhead, the Our Lady’s Campanile bell tower is a ubiquitous mark of Bonaventure tradition and culture.
“The tower is an easily-recognizable architectural feature and hard to miss, whether walking across campus or just driving by,” Frank said. “Its vertical form and stark lines makes it adaptable as a logo, while the symbols built into the tower represent the spirit of the founders and current members of the Bonaventure family.”
